Page 86 of His Juliet

After the tournament was set up, we were off. Juliet was quiet the first few races, but she slowly relaxed.

“I hate you Rainbow Road!” she shouted as she fell off the track for the millionth time. My plan of ensuring her victory was not going well.

I laughed. “You’ve got to stay on the road.”

“I’m trying!” she shouted.

“There, there! Hit that!” I shouted back.

She swerved, missing the present that could have saved her, and fell off the side again.

“I want to return to Moo Moo Meadows,” she whined.

“Next time, baby.”

We played another tournament, this time with all of Juliet’s favorite tracks. She lifted her hands in victory when she won third place.

I put my arm around her shoulders. “Good job.”

She leaned into me, pressing her face into the crook of my neck. “Thanks for sabotaging my enemies.”

“Always.” She didn’t know how deeply I meant that.

I was going to ask if she wanted to play something else when she yawned. We were both night owls, but today had been a lot, and even I could feel fatigue pulling at me.

“Time for bed?” I murmured.

She nodded, and I pulled her off the couch and led her into my room, where I’d already put her bags.

“Here you go, angel. I’ll help you unpack everything tomorrow.”

She cleared her throat and looked around. Did she like it? Sienna had designed it, but I hadn’t done anything else with it.

“Is this your room?” She stared at the bed, her eyes unfocused and shoulders tense.

“Yeah.” Worry was clawing at my chest. Would she rather sleep in the guest room?

“Are you sure you want me here?”

My heart lurched and I pulled her into my arms. “How can you even ask that, especially when I’m the one who forced you to move in?”

“I guess you did,” she whispered.

I stroked my hand down her hair. The pink was fading a little. What did she need to re-do it? Did she always do pink or did she try other colors?

“Then what’s wrong?”

She said nothing, and I forced myself to be patient and stay quiet. I was learning Juliet needed time and a little coaxing to say what was on her mind.

“This just reminds me of all the times I moved to a new foster home with my things in trash bags. And at first, they all said they wanted me there, but it never stayed that way.”

Fuck.

I tightened my hold on her. “You’ll just have to stick around so I can prove it to you.”

She tentatively put her arms around me and returned my hug. “Thanks.” Her voice was a vulnerable whisper.

“The bathroom is through there. Why don’t you get ready for bed?”

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